May 21

Back in civilization?

by in People we've met, Places we've been, Things we've seen

From Farina, cos its a one way journey if you are not going to Birdsville or Oodnadatta we headed back to Pt Augusta for another night behind the sports club. Found a few like minded travellers ……DSC03800 (1024x684)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A most convivial evening after a quite boring drive back from Lyndhurst. Called in to Copley bakery on the way past to get some bread but this bakery doesn’t do bread at all. We’d tried the other day for supplies in Hawker only to find none so passed through again and on to Quorn. Saw sign for bakery at local supermarket and settled for 3 day old packed bread. Not much choice for travellers out here. Could have bought coffee anywhere but not sure about vintages. A few days earlier whilst still in the Flinders Ranges we were tempted into a lamb spit roast dinner at the Woolshed Restaurant, 2 courses for JUST $39.00 per head. The stale bread from Quorn was better fare. Scenery score 100, food score 20. Back to truck cooked meals.

Up late, slow to get going we headed off north. Plan was to get somewhere! Spuds Roadhouse caught our attention a couple of 100 K’s up, free camp, and found half the people we spent last night with. DSC03822 (1024x681) DSC03823 (1024x683) DSC03824 (1024x683) DSC03825 (1024x683)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But one newcomer came in late, all the way from Italy on a 40 year old Vespa. Luca, now having been on the road throughout  Africa, Asia and into Darwin a few days ago anticipates circumnavigating the world over the remaining 12 months or so of his time off. A track engineer for Ducati Racing (Moto GP) but more recently a stint with Ferrari he was one of those unique people with whom you could spend hours in conversation. From here (Pimla) he’s on to Adelaide, Melbourne and then to an aunts in Wollongong, then NZ and onwards from there. Had to repair the clutch on the Vespa overnight, had the parts on board, seemed just second nature. Pitched a little tent tonight but normally gets invited into someone elses bed……

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We farewelled Luca in the morning and set off for Woomera, Roxby Downs and Andamooka.

Woomera features an awful lot of “forbidden access”, a wide, huge swathe of Australia heading northwest from here. That’s where they shoot rockets – all the way to the Indian Ocean (if they make it). Some rockets do go straight up with satellites, some don’t go up much at all. Lots of bomb rockets (missiles) got tested here in the past as well, mostly by the Brits. Apparently we developed some missiles which the Brits bought but we didn’t use them ourselves. I’m not sure what that says of our own self confidence or maybe we just didn’t have any one to shoot at. Loved it all though – great science history……

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Roxby Downs is anther mining town attached to Olympic Dam uranium, copper, gold and silver mine. Its a modern company town with all the best facilities for its 4500 residents. The only mine tour is on Wednesday and this being Thursday we missed it, so the Visitor information Centre invited us into their theatre and played us a company video of the mine operations. A very personal experience and most informative. Even got some shots…..

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Not a lot else in Roxby Downs other than some very friendly people so on we go to Andamooka. Now this place has some dirty history. Opal mines everywhere, slag piles everywhere else and shanties and even some houses squeezed in between. Dirt everywhere. Mind you, there are some mansions…….

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Its night, we’ve pulled into another free camp provided this time by the civic minded citizens of Andamooka so for now there’s nothing new to report. Good night Dick and I hope Luca has found a nice warm bed to share.

2 Responses to “Back in civilization?”

  1. From g@z:

    My cousin Paul worked at Rocky Downs for years, in the lab I think. Now in Rockhampton 🙂

    Love the rockets!

    Regards,
    g@z.

    Posted on 21 May 2015 at 8:32 pm #
  2. From Maggie Layton:

    Gotta love Andamooka. Such class. My sort of town.

    Posted on 26 May 2015 at 12:52 pm #

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